Student's adorable letter prompts new warning for Newark drivers

Young Newark resident has an idea that the city government likes, too. And he hopes it will stop accidents from happening outside his home at Casho Mill intersection.
William Bretzger/The News Journal

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Joey Tosh-Morelli will see his suggestion to Newark city government come to fruition - the city has agreed with his idea of painting additional warning at the 4-way stop at Church and Casho Mill Roads.(Photo: William Bretzger, The News Journal)Buy Photo

A nine-year-old Newark resident concerned about traffic in his front yard has convinced city officials to pilot a new way to warn drivers of upcoming stop signs.

Joey Tosh-Morelli, a student at Newark Charter School, said cars frequently crash or narrowly avoid collisions at the intersection of West Church and Casho Mill roads — steps from his front door.

"There has been a couple of accidents and a lot of screeching and beeping lately," Tosh-Morelli said Friday.

He wrote Newark Mayor Polly Sierer a letter earlier this month and reported that most drivers don't fully stop at the intersection. The point was to ask Sierer to have "stop ahead" painted on the roadways nearing the stop.

The letter included a hand-drawn diagram explaining where to place the warnings. Tosh-Morelli saw a similar warning while on the road with his grandparents in New Jersey, he said.

"I thought it would be a good idea to do back home," he said.

His letter argued the solution would be cheaper than a traffic light or sending police out to tend to car accidents. He and his friends walk across the intersection regularly.

"I'm allowed to cross the street by myself and I just don't want to get hurt and I don't want any of my friends to get hurt," he said.

After officials received his letter, his idea was put on the agenda of a recent city Traffic Committee meeting, where he pitched the idea to city officials.

"Joey is very articulate and had a well-thought-out plan of what he wanted to accomplish," Sierer said.

Sierer said the city has agreed to use the intersection to pilot painted warnings before stop signs. They hope to have the signs painted before Tosh-Morelli heads to fourth-grade in the coming weeks, she said.

"It is also a safety issue for kids going to Downes Elementary School," Sierer said.

She said it will be a good lesson for Tosh-Morelli and other residents.

"He was able to come share his concern respectfully explain why he thinks it is important and people listen," Sierer said.

Vicki Tosh-Morelli, Joey's mother, said described her son as a "compassionate child." She added it's "frightening for a kid when cars have smashed in front of you."

"It is a fairly busy intersection," Vicki Tosh-Morelli said. "Everyday he is hearing the cars go by and he is seeing the cars kind of roll through the stop sign and has horns honking."

Joey Tosh-Morelli said it was cool to get a response from the city and just wants people to be mindful of others.

"I just want people to be safe and I don't want anybody to do die in a car crash here," Joey Tosh-Morelli said.